Grease a 10 inch Dutch oven and set on 4 or 5 charcoals and ring lid all the way around with charcoals to preheat. Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl. Combine wet ingredients, stirring well; add to wet ingredients to dry ingredients stirring just until moistened. Pour into hot Dutch and put on preheated lid. Rotate 45º on coals to even out the hot spots on the bottom. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown or use the smell test. Remove from Dutch oven and serve.

Or

Grease a 10 inch cast-iron skillet and put in oven while it preheats to 400º. Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl. Combine wet ingredients, stirring well; add to wet ingredients to dry ingredients stirring just until moistened. Pour into hot skillet. Bake at 400° for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from skillet and serve.

If it’s not cooked in a cast iron skillet it’s not Southern. I have a cast iron skillet dedicated to nothing but Cornbread.

Cut the top off the onion. Cut just enough off the bottom of the onion, so it will stand up straight. Peel off the remaining skin. Cut the onion into 4 to 6 wedges stopping just short of going all the way through. This will keep it together. Tear off two pieces of aluminum foil 10 to 12 inches long. The double layer will protect the onion from burning while on the grill. Place the onion centered on the foil pulling foil up tight and around onion. Crimp foil so the top of the onion is exposed. Add salt and pepper and brown sugar. Then drizzle the olive oil over onion to moisten the brown sugar.

Place the onion directly over medium high heat until it is hot. Then move onion away from heat and bake indirectly for 20 minutes or till desired softness. Using tongs to reach into foil and pull out onion wedges.

This is great way to have onions on your steak, burgers or chicken sandwiches. You can add other seasonings to make an ordinary onion fit any main dish you want.